Download as PDF, PPTX
Uploaded byVASS Yukon
Crime scene awareness
This document provides guidance for fire and EMS responders on crime scene awareness and safety. It discusses how to respond, evaluate, secure, protect, observe, notify, and document at potential crime scenes. Responders are advised to prioritize firefighter safety, establish perimeters, protect evidence, and notify law enforcement without jeopardizing patient care. The document also covers approaching scenes safely, dealing with dangerous situations like crowds, gangs, and drug labs. It provides tips for avoiding violence such as having an escape route and using concealment versus cover.
More Related Content
Similar to Crime scene awareness
Crime scene awareness
- 1. CRIME SCENE AWARENESSAND SAFETY FOR FIRE AND EMS RESPONDERS Prepared by Christopher Hall Former Board Director and BLS Coordinator For the: Spring Valley Volunteer Fire Department Milpitas, California December, 2009
- 2. Topics • R. E.S. P. O .N. D . • Evidence Considerations at Crime Scenes • Personal Risk Reduction • Handling Violent Situations • Personal Safety Techniques
- 3. Crime Scenes R-E-S-P-O-N-D • RRESPOND • E EVALUATE • S SECURE • P PROTECT • O OBSERVE • N NOTIFY • D DOCUMENT
- 4. R espond • GeneralObservations on way to scene • Mental Notes – Anything out of place ? • Firefighter Safety is #1 consideration
- 5. E valuate • FirefighterSafety Calls In Progress • FACTORS: – Suspect(s), witness, victims – BLS, Bio/Chem hazards, SWAT – Weapons – Wires Down – Fire, Gas, Electric
- 6. E valuate • Call- Not In Progress, already at scene. – Ask for assistance – Limit access, one way in/out • People AND Vehicles – Gloves and other PPE – Take Notes • Who, what, when, where, time
- 7. S ecure • EstablishPerimeter – Tape/rope – For a Large perimeter- use rope – Outer/inner perimeters – Be aware of… • Footprints • Tire prints • Pavement gouging • Physical evidence (ie: blood) • Suspect escape route
- 8. S ecure • EstablishAttendance Log and a PAR – Begin with yourself and anyone past/present – Maintain until Law Enforcement arrives, then turn over to Law Enforcement. – Include in log • Names • Dates • Agency • Time entered • Time exited • Reason entered
- 9. P rotect • Safeguardscene until Law Enforcement Arrives from: – Weather – Animals – Traffic (people and vehicles)
- 10. P rotect • Safeguarditems within scene – Room in which the patient was treated – Vehicles – Patient’s Cell phone – ID’s, wallets, personal items – No movement of body until authorized by Coroner in case of deceased patient
- 11. O bserve • Basicfactors – Time of call, arrival – Weather/Temperature – Doors open or locked – Lights on or off – Position of patients and vehicles
- 12. N otifications • Supervisor •Dispatch – Who will then notify Law Enforcement
- 13. D ocument • AttendanceLog • Call times, arrival times • Initial Patient Contact Time • Patient Contact Report (ePCR) • Sketch if requested by Law Enforcement • NFIRS Number of Incident
- 14. EMS at CrimeScenes • The goal of performing EMS at crime scenes is to provide high-quality patient care while preserving evidence. • NEVER jeopardize patient care for the sake of evidence. However, do not perform patient care with disregard for the criminal investigation that will follow. • Be aware you may have to justify your actions to Law Enforcement and the District Attorney after the fact.
- 15. What is aCrime Scene ? • MVA involving injury or death • FIRES – Treat all fires as a crime scene and try to preserve the point of origin • Homicide • Altercation (fight) • Drug Labs • Drug Grow Operations • Hazmat • Terrorism
- 16. Evidence • Be awarethat anything on or around the patient may be considered evidence. • Whenever in doubt, save or treat an object as evidence. • Develop an awareness of evidence. • Pick a single path to and from the patient if a crime scene is suspected, and maintain it. • Decontaminate equipment AWAY from the crime scene – Remember Bleach + DNA do not mix
- 17. Types of Evidence •Prints • Blood and body fluids • Particulate (or microscopic) evidence • Chemicals, drug apparatus • On-scene observation of scene details and people • Skid Marks, gouging, damage to poles or trees, fencing- in the case of vehicular homicides
- 18. Firefighter Safety atPotential Crime Scene Calls
- 19. Approaching the Scene •Your safety strategy begins as soon as you are dispatched on a call. • Never follow police units to a known crime scene. • Rather than risk becoming injured or killed, err on the side of safety. • Stage well away until approved to enter the scene by Law Enforcement.
- 20. Never approach thescene until you are advised that the scene is secure by dispatch, or in-person by law enforcement.
- 21. There is nosuch thing as a dead hero!
- 22. Approach potentially unstablescenes single file.
- 23. Hold a flashlightto the side of your body, not in front of it.
- 24. Try not tosilhouette your approach to a potential crime scene. Walk to the Side of a light source.
- 25. Potentially Dangerous Situations •Un-dispatched Sudden Roadway encounters – Think Marijuana Grow Operations and their gardeners/security • Calls involving Mentally Unstable Individuals • Murders, assaults, robberies • Dangerous crowds • Known Gang Residence • Drug-related crimes • Clandestine drug labs • Domestic violence • Calls of “unknown medical”
- 26. Dangerous Crowds andBystanders – Shouts or increasingly loud voices – Pushing or shoving – Hostilities toward anyone – Rapid increase in the crowd size – Inability of law enforcement to control bystanders – Circling or crowding of First Responders – Can be as few in number as a single family unit
- 27. Street Gangs • NoFire unit is totally immune from gang activity. • Commonly observed gang characteristics include appearance, graffiti, tattoos, hand signals.
- 28. Drug Related Crimes •The manufacture and sale of drugs goes hand-in-hand with violence. • High cash flow, addiction, and weapons are a dangerous combination. • Signs of drug involvement include: – Prior history of drugs in the area – Clandestine Drug Lab equipment/smells visible on approach – Clinical evidence that the patient has used drugs • Track marks, etc. – Drug-related comments by bystanders – Drug paraphernalia on the scene
- 29. Common abused substances soldon the street
- 30. Clandestine Drug Labs •Drug dealers often set up laboratories to manufacture controlled substances in rural areas to avoid detection. • Commonly manufactured drugs include methamphetamine, LSD, crack, and more. • Drug raids on clandestine labs frequently turn into hazmat operations. • Labs can be found anywhere, even in utility trailers driving down the interstate.
- 31. If you evercome upon a clandestine drug lab, take these actions: • Leave the area immediately. • Do not touch anything. • Never stop any chemical reactions already in progress ! • Notify dispatch/police. • Initiate ICS and hazmat procedures. • Consider evacuation of the area. • No open flame or sparks
- 32. Violent Situations • Ifyou suspect a violent situation, retreat and request law-enforcement backup. • Just like in a wildland fire, as you approach the scene have a “safety zone” in the “green” pre-identified that you can retreat to.
- 33. Cover vs. Concealment andthe Difference • Concealing yourself is placing your body behind an object that can hide you from view. • Concealment doesn’t stop projectiles.
- 34. Taking cover isfinding a position that both hides and protects your body from projectiles.
- 35. Specific techniques toavoid physical violence include: • BEST=Don’t be there in the first place – Wait for an “all clear” from Law Enforcement • Immediate retreat • Wedging equipment in a doorway as you retreat • Using an unconventional path to retreat • Anticipating the moves of the aggressor • Overturning objects in the path of the attacker • Having a pre-planned safety zone
- 36. The Contact-Cover BuddySystem
- 37. Communicating Warning Signs Everyteam should develop methods of alerting other providers to danger without alerting the aggressor.
- 38. Summary • Evidence Considerations •Personal Risk Reduction at Scene • Violent Encounters • Personal Protective Strategies – Contact/Cover – Concealment vs. Cover
- 39. Q and A OpenQuestion and Answer
- 40.
- 41. Licensed Under Creative Commmons •This work is licensed under the Creative Commons licensing system. Some rights reserved. • Reproduction/Modification of this work is permitted as long as proper attribution is given.